Joseph J. Zetti

Joseph J. Zetti, age 98, passed away on July 2, 2021. Born in Allison, Pa on February 18, 1923, Joseph graduated from Jefferson Township High School in 1942. This same year he was drafted into the Army Medical School in Texas as a first aid man. In 1943, he went overseas to Europe and trained in Casablanca, Morocco and Oran, Algeria. He joined the 36th Infantry Division, 5th Army and invaded beaches in Italy at Salerno and Pasteum and was one of the first Americans to invade the European continent on September 9th, 1943. Joseph participated in battles at Mt. Lungo, Mt. Maggiore, San Pietro and Alta Villa, and the Rapids River near Mt. Cassino. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the German soldiers on January 22nd, 1944 and held in four different POW camps in Germany. On April 22nd, 1945, Russian troops liberated his camp on their way to Berlin. He left Harve, France on a liberty ship in June and was discharged from the military in October 1945. Joseph was the recipient of many military awards; ETO Victory Medal, Combat Medical Badge, Prisoner of War Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation Award. Joseph was an employee with Goodyear Tire Co. and worked all the plants in Akron. He retired from the technical center as an experimental tire builder in 1987, having had 45 years of service under his belt. He was a member of the Ex-POW National Association, VFW, DAV of Summit County, American Legion, Goodyear Local 42, Chapel Hill Walkers Club, National Law Enforcement Association, and a Charter Member of the WWII Memorial in Washington DC. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Domonick and Mary (Casalinova) Zetti; wife, Frances; Sister, Rose; and brothers, Stephen and Louis. He is survived by his son, retired Lt. Col. James H. Zetti (Mary Jane) of League City, TX; daughter, Linda, and son-in-law, Russell Diehl of Akron; sister, Donna (Barry) Elliott of Rices Landing, PA; grandchildren, Andrea, Pamela, Tanya, and Russ, and granddaughter-in-law Shawnie Diehl; great-grandchildren, Timothy, Branden, James, Joseph, Kayla, Stacy, Laynee, Reece, Haley, and Josh; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends and Family will be received Thursday, July 8th, from 11 to 1 p.m. at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road (Route 91) Akron (Ellet), Ohio 44312. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. with Rev. Keith Johnson officiating. Honor guard services will be conducted graveside by DAV members at Northlawn Memorial Gardens.